Web treating apparatus



Filed Sept. 20, 1959 J E BURBANK WEB TREATING APPARATUS July s, 1941.

` July 8 1941 J. E. BURBANK 2,248,333

f wBB HEATING APPARATUS l y Filed sept. 2o, 19:59 i 2 sheets-sheet 2 lrlIlll'lllllIIIHHIHIIIHIIIHIIlllllllllllllllill lllllllllllllllH'HllllH i f lll/111111111. rl

22 v "L t A v ATTORNEYS squeegee rollers,

Patente-d July 8, 1941 UNITED STATE WEB TaEA'rnvG APPARATUS A John E. Burbank, Pounariage,

N. Y., assignor, by

mesne assignments, of fifty-one one-hum.

Cheyney, Montclair, N. J., and forty-nine one-hundredths to Raymond H.

dredths to William N.

Lutz, Norwalk, Conn.

Application September 20, 1939, Serial No. 295,705

23 claims.

This invention relates to web treating apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for I subjecting a, strip of exposed photographic paper to a series of developing treatments with different liquids followed by washing and drying operations. A

A machine for this purpose comprises a plurality of tanks or chambers through which the paper is passed in succession and such tanks or chambers contain different liquids or are equipped with drying means. Means, preferably rollers, are provided for conveying the paper into and out of the tanks and with each roller over which the paper passes on leaving a tank is preferably provided a tno-operating or squeegee roller for wringing liquid out of the \strip to return such liquid into said tank. The paper, upon entrance into the first tank is wetted and is materially reduced in tensile streng-th as well as subjected to longitudinal expansion. Due to its reduced tensile strength, it cannot stand the tension which would be required to pull it through a pair of rollers and for this reason driving means are provided v feeding of the strip through the tank with which such pair of rollers is associated. In the sucseeding tanks or chambers; the paper may undergo further expansion or shrinkage thereby varying the speed of rotation required for each pair of rollers'to advance the strip of paper uniformly through the successive tanks. Any excessive tension on the paper while Wet is the direct cause of wrinkles, and so the maximum tension on the weakest paper must never be greater than the amount which will handle it without any trace of wrinkles and while this paper tension never can be exceeded,v there must always be enough power at the rollers to pull the heaviest paper through the apparatus. Also, a very uniform tension must be kept on -the paper to minimize development of wrinkles or lateral shifting of the paper, particularly while it is entering the first tank, as it has a tendency to expand unevenly when it is allowed to fall loosely into the tank and such uneven expansion will cause lateral displacement of the paper on its conveying rollers with resulting damaged edges. The squeegee rollers constitute a drag on the paper, varying for different papers, and also hinder the passage of splices which very frequently occur in the paper. In order to avoid rupture of the paper strip when a splice is presented -to the such rollers must be supplied withlmomentary extra force to eiect passage of the L splice therethrough. Also, the rollers for each pair of rollers to effect must be automatically supplied with the proper amount of power required for feeding vdierent types of paper.

An object of this invention is an apparatus of the character above described which feeds the paper strip through a succession of tanks while maintaining proper tension at all times on the successive sections of the strip, supplies additional power 4to the rollers without any increase of tension on the paper, minimizes contamination of' the solution in one tank by solution in the preceding tank, is able to handle different papers having different rates of expansionv or contraction and to supply the power requirements of different papers, requires minimum time yand without requiring any particular attention. \l Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodyply reel I2 is provided at one end of the frame and a. take-up reel i3 is' provided at the other end of the frame. A plurality of web-feeding rollers i4 are supported by shafts I5 journalled in uprights I6 carried by the frame I0. each roller being substantially directly above one wall of a tank Il. 4mounted a sprocket-equipped hub I1, tu `the outer face of which is attached a disk i8 of friction material. A cap I9 is slidably keyed to each shaft4 I5 by a pin 20 for movement into and out of engagement with the friction disk I8.

For eachcap I9 there is provided a bell crank lever 2| supported by the frame I0 and having a short arm 22 engaging the end of the cap I9. The lever also has a long arm 23 arranged subsintially midway of two sides of each tank il and terminating centrally thereof. A rod 24 is loosely connected at its upper end to the end of the arm 23 so as to be capable of slight m'ovement relative to the sides of the tank and at its lower end is loosely connected to a bracket 26 having ears 26. A guide roller 2l is Journalled labor for starting and operates-eiliciently On each shaft I5 is rotatablyl longitudinal contraction thereof.

in the ears 26 and the poin-t of attachment' of the rod 24 to the bracket 25 is substantially midway of the roller 21, so that a slight tilting of the roller 21 is permitted. Each roller 21 is rotatably supported by avshaft28 having a socket 23 at each end into which projects a. pin 33 supported by an ear 26. The roller 21 is rotatable about the shaft 28 which in turn is rotatable with respect to the pin 30. A bar 3i is attached to each ear 26 and is of sumcient length to prevent any substantial transverse movement of the roller 21. 'I'he increase and decrease in the film loop causes movement of the roller 21 and its supporting parts to vary theA position of Ithe cap I9 thereby varying the friction between it` andA the hub I1 with consequent regulation of they the first tank. Also, tension rollers 33 and 34 are provided at the entrance and exit ends,

these rollers being supported for slight verticalI movement and also being free `to teeter slightly. 'I'he web passes from kthe supply r'eel I2 under the roller 33, over the roller 32; under the roller 21 in thel first tank, over the first roller I4, and so on through the remaining tanks and from the last roller I4 under the roller 34 andto vthe take-up reel I3. A squeegee roller 35 is associated with each roller I4 and is journalled in straps 33 having slots through which extends the shaft I5. A spring 31 pulls each strap 38 downwardly to urge the roller 35 into contact with the roller I4 to squeeze the web.

Associated with each roller I4 is a pair of guide rollers 38 and 39 which guide the web to and from the roller I4. The roller 38 is provided for the purpose of removing longitudinal wrinkles in the web before it passes to the feeding roller I4. Each roller 38 is so positioned relative to the roller I4 that it effects a change of at least 20 in the direction of travel of the web and its radius is not over times the thickness of the web. With such dimensions and arrangement, the roller 38 is effective to remove longitudinal wrinkles from the web. The roller '39 is provided forstripping the web from the roller I4. tend to stick to the roller I4 and wind around it should there-be any slack in the web. In order to avoidhaving the web stick to the roller 39, such roller is of such size that its radius is not over 40 times the thickness of the web.

The successive tanks contain treating fluids of different types which have different effects upon the webs or constitute drying chambers. 'I'he web, upon entrance into the solution in the first tank undergoes substantial longitudinal expansion by reason of being wetted and also is materially reduced in tensile strength for the same reason. In the succeeding tanks. the action of the treatment therein may result in further longitudinal expansion oi the web or may result in The passage of the Ywebthrough each tank is effected by the pull applied thereto by the roller over which the web passes upon emergence from said tank so that the web does not in any case haveto transmit power more than enough to overcome the fluid resistance to motion which is obviously very slight. Under no conditions does the web supply anv motive power for any set of squeegee rollers.

Without a guide'such as 33, the web would lifted thereby successively disengagingA the 'I'he rollers I4 are all of the same size, but the sprocket wheel for the first roller I4 is larger than the remaining sprockets. A driving chain 40 passes around all the sprockets and a sprocket operated by the driving motor 4I. The take-up reel I3 is vfrictionally supported by a pair of hubs 42 tol one of which is attached a sprocket 43 also driven by the chain 4l. As the sprocket of the first roller I4 is larger than the y remaining sprockets, the peripheral speed of the first roller is less than that of the remaining rollers whenever all the clutches are fully effective, so that additional expansion in succeeding tanks may readily be compensated.

'I'he weight of the reel I2 and the web carried thereby is -sufiicient to produce tension on the web between the roller` 32 and the roller I4 of the rst tank tending to lift the roller 21. Such tension varies as the amount of web von the roller decreases but at all times such tension lies within a definite range. In the succeeding tanks,

ltension on vther web is caused by the relative feeding rates of the successive rollers I4. 'I'he lifting force of the web on `the roller 21 is double the tension on the web and when such lifting force exactly equals the combined weight of the roller '21 and its supporting mechanism, the roller 21 is maintained at constant elevation with the cap I 3 in a fixed position relative to the friction disk I3 and power is supplied to the'roller at a fixed rate. .However, should there be any variation in the lifting effect of the web due to any cause such, for example, as a change in the such that the proper tension is produced in the web sections in the various tanks to maintain the web free of wrinkles and taut without sub-- jecting it to excessive strain.

vMeans are provided for circulating fluidin the tanks transverse ofthe direction of feed ofthe web. For this` purpose, apertures 44 are provided in the end walls of -each tank in combination 'f with discharge and exhaust headers 45.

The Aarrangement is such that the feeding rollers automatically become inoperative in the event that entrance of the web into the iirst tank is prevented. Under such; circumstances, the

various guide rollers 21 would be successively clutches for the feeding rollers I4. Such rollers would automatically ycome to a stop and the v feeding of the web would cease, thereby avoiding 1. A machine for subjecting a web to a success on of treatments with liquids comprising a series of liquid-containing tanks through which the web passes successively in down and up vertical runs, a feeding roller for each tank over which the web passes upon emergence fromsaid i tank, apressure roller co-operating with each feeding roller to remove liquid from said. web. driving means individual to each feeding roller consisting of a rotatable member having variable frictional engagement with said roller, means for rotating said rotatable members at constant andasse ized by the first of said feeding rouers having its the maximaximum peripheral speed less than lning feed mum peripheral speed of the rem rollers.

3. A machine according to claim 1 charactercentrally` of said guide roher, and a pivoted lever having one end loosely connected'to'saidsrod andY its other end operatively associated. with said friction clutch for increasing the driving friction ized by the feeding rollers being of equal size and the rotational speed of the driving member for l the vfirst roller being less than that of any vof the other driving members. d. A machine for subjecting a vweb .to a, succession of treatments with liquids comprising a l series of liquid-containing tanks through which the web passes successively in down and unvertical runs, a feeding roller for leachtank over which the web passes upon emergence from said tank, a pressure roller co-operating with each feeding roller to remove liquid from said web, a rotatable driving member for each feeding roller, means for rotating said rotatable members at constant speed, a friction clutch between each rotatable member and its associated feeding roller, a guide roller adjacent the bottom of each tank substantially parallel to the feeding roller and under which the web passes, connections between said guide roller and friction clutch for increasing the drivi'yng friction exerted upon the feeding roller upon downward movement of said guide roller and releasing such drivirg friction upon upward'movement of said guide roller.

5. A machine for subjecting a web to a succession of treatments comprising a series of tanks through which the web passes successively, a feeding roller for eachtank over which the web is passed upon'emergence from said tank, a pressure roller associated with each feeding roller, a rotatablev driving member for each feeding roller, means for: rotating said rotatable members at constant speed, a friction clutch between each exerted on said feeding roller upondownward movement of said guide roller and releasing such driving friction upon upward movement of said guide roller.

- 8. A machine foi-'subjecting auweb to a succession of treatments comprising a series of tanks through which the web passes successively, a

feeding roller for each tank over which the web passes upon emergence from said tank, a pressure roller associated with each feeding roller, a first clutch member for each roller coaxial therewith and rotatable relative thereto, means for rotating said rst clutch members at. constant speed, a second clutch member for each roller slidably keyed thereto for frictional contact with the first'- clutch member, .a guide roller in each tank substantially parallel to the feeding roller and under which said web passes, a rod supporting said guide roller for limited operating movement, and a pivoted 'lever having. one end loosely connected tosaid rod and its other end connected to said clutch member for increasing the friction between said clutch members upon downwardl movement of said guide roller and releasing such friction upon upward' movement of said guide roller.

9. A machine for subjecting a web to a succession of treatments comprising a series of tanks through which the web passes successively, a

feeding roller for each tank over which the web passes upon emergence from said tank, a pressure roller associated with each feeding roller, a rst clutch member for each roller coaxial therewith' and rotatable relative thereto, means for rotating said first clutch'members at constant speed, a

rotatable member and the associated feeding roller, a guide roller in each tank substantially lparallel to said feeding roller and un'der which second clutch member forl each roller -slidably keyed thereto for frictional contact with the first clutch member, a guide rollerin each tank substantially parallel to the feeding roller and under which said web passes, a bracket having portions' in which are iournalled the ends of said roller, a rod having one end loosely connected to said bracket centrally of said roller, a pivoted lever having one end loosely connected to said rod and its other end connected'to said second clutch member for increasing the friction between said l clutch. members upon downward movement of ing friction upon upward movement of said guide roller.

6. A machine according to claim 1 characterized by means for limiting transverse movement of each guide roller in its tank.

7. A machine for subjecting a web to a succession of treatments comprising a series of tanksA through which the web passes successively, a feeding roller forl each tank over which the web is passed upon emergence from said tank, a pres'- sure roller associated with each feeding roller, a rotatable driving member for each feeding roller, means for lrotating said rotatable members at constant speed, a friction clutch between each rotatable member and the associatedfeeding roller, a guide roller in each tank substantially parallel to said feeding roller and under which the web passes, a bracket having portions in which are lournalled the ends of said guide roller, a rod said guide roller and releasing such friction upon upward movement of said guide rod.

10; A machine according to claim 1 characterized by a rollerv before and after each feeding roher arranged to guide the web to and from said feeding roller, each of said rollers having a radius not exceeding 40 times the web thickness and the roller ahead yof the feeding roller b ing arranged to change the direction of web travel at least 20. 11. A machine according to claim 4charac `.terized by a roller before and after each feeding roller arranged to guide the web to and from said feeding roller, each of said rollers having a 'radius' not exceeding 40 times the web thickness and the roller ahead of the feeding roller being arranged to change the direction of web travel at least 20. Y

4 -arranged to, change the direction of web travel at least 20.

13. A machine according to claim icharacterized by the first of said feeding rollers having its maximum peripheral speed less than the maximum peripheral speedof the remaining' rolls.

14.-A machine according to claim 5 'characterized by the first of said feeding rollers Ahaving its maximum peripheral speed less than the maximum peripheral speed of the remaining rolls.

vconsisting of a rotatablemember having variable 15. A machine according to claim 9 charac- V terized bythe first of said feeding rollers having its maximum peripheral speed less than the maximum peripheral speed of the remaining rolls.

16. A machine according to claim 4: characterized by means for limiting transverse movement of each guide roller in its tank. l

17. A machine according to claim' 5 charac terized by means for limiting transverse movement of each guide roller in its tank.

18. A machine according to claim 7y characterized by means for limiting transverse movement of each guide roller in its tank.

19. A machine according to claim 4 characterized by the feeding rollers being of equalsize and the rotational speed of the driving member 4 for the f lrst roller being less than that of any of the other driving members.

20. A machine according to claim 9 characterized by the feeding rollers being o! equal size frictional engagement with said roller, means for rotating said rotatable members at constant speed, vand means including a web-operated member adjacent. the bottom of each tank for actuating one of said rotatable members to var! its frictional engagement with its associated roller, said means being operable by said web for moving said member to increase the driving fricand the rotational speed of the driving member for the nrst roner being less than' that of any of the other driving members. t

tion exerted upon the feeding roller in response .to tension decrease in the section of the web in Vthe vtank with which the feeding roller is associated and to decrease said driving friction upon tension increase.

22. A machineaccording to claim 2l characntex-ized by the `first of. said feeding rollers havingy its maximum peripheral speed less than the maximum peripheral speed of the remaining feedv rollers. v

23. A machine according'to claim 21v characterized by the feeding rollers being of equal size and the rotational speed of the driving member for the iirst rollei being less than that of any y of the other driving'members.

JOHN p E. BURBANK. 

